Oil-switch.



OIL swrrcfi.

I APPLICATION FILED 0GT.11, 1905/ RENEWED APR. 8, 1914. 1,1 13,087.

11. P. BALL.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

v Ham y PIA/C 6 Ba y W.

W ftneases HENRY PRICE BALL, OF NEW YOl'Etli, 1\T-. Y. AEiSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OIL-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 11, 1905, Serial No. 282,233.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914. Renewed April 8, 1914. Serial No. 830,536.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY PRICE BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York,- State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates in general to electric switches and more particularly to that class, designed for handling currents of large amperage and high potential, in which the pressure produced by the arc'is confined and directed so as to assist in breaking the circuit.

In carrying out my invention I utilize the pressure produced by the are drawn at one of a plurality of break points to extinguish the arcs drawn at the other break points. In a polyphase circuit this is readily accomplished by breaking all the legs of the circuit simultaneously within .a single inclosure, or a plurality of intercommunica-ting inclosures, and relying on the inequalityof pressures produced by the different arcs to rupture the different; legs of the circuit. In such a circuit the energy in each leg will vary from instant 'to instant and. the phases will differ in the different legs so that upon the simultaneous breaking of all the legs of. the circuit thearcs drawn will correspondingly vary in energy values and the arc having the least energy willbe first extin ished, and then the next vigorous are, an so on, until all the arcs are extinguished, in each case the inclosed insulating medium whether oil or air being forced by the arc of greatest energy against the arc of least energy. Fur thermore, if desired, each leg of the circuit may be'provided with two break points in series arranged to draw their arcs in sequence; With this arrangement the arc first drawn will force the oil against the arc last drawnas well as against the weaker arcs in.

the other legs of the circuits. 7

The present invention comprises means for rupturing a circuit in the manner above indicated, together with certain details and structural features, all of which will be more, fully understood upon reference to the following detailed description taken in convnection'with the accompanying drawing, in

which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a standard type" of switch constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diaferent oil gram illustrating especially the manner of establishing communication between the difpots of such switch; and Fig. 3 is a detailed view of a modified form of switch in which the arc is drawn in one inclosure prior to the otherl,

Throughout these refer to like parts.

In the switch shown, which is of a common and well-known type, 10 designates the oil pots or chambers within which the arcs are drawn by the separation of the fixed and movable contacts ll and 12. These pots, of which there are two .er phase, are located within fire-proof cells fbrmed by brick walls 13built upon a suitable base 14: of insulatfigures like characters ing material and provided with an insulatconducting material. For the purpose of inspection and access to its interior, the cell is provided with suitable doors 16 having latches 17 for holding themclosed. The fixed switch contacts 11 are carried by partitions 18 of suitable conducting material located some distance from the bottoms of the pots and in electrical engagement with them. Each pot is electrically connected to and mechanically supported by a terminal 19 which extends through a suitable insulating base 20 carried within the cell. Th'e circuit iscompleted between the contacts 11 by means of the contact rods 12 which are electrically and mechanically connected by the yoke 21, secured at its center to the lower end" of a reciprocating rod 22 made of'wood or other insulating material, which is adapted to be actuated by the operating mechanism located upon the top of the cell. As the rod 22 is reciprocated the contact rods 12 are moved through the insulating guides 23 located in the top of the oil pots intoand out of engagement with their cooperating contacts 11.

mg cap 15 of slate or other refractory non- In accordance with the present invention 7 the oil pots 10, of each leg of the circuit, are connected by a pipe 24 located near their lower ends for the purpose of establishing communication to permit the free passage of the oil or other insulating fluid, whose level is indicated at 2&9. The pots of each leg of' the circuit are also connected, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, by similar connecting pipes 25. I i

In the operation of the switch shown, which intended for a-three-phase circuit,

the contact rods 12 of all three phases are simultaneously drawn out of engagement with their cooperating fixed contacts 11 and an arc is drawn in each one of the oil pots having an energy value corresponding to the value of the current in the particular leg of the circuit at the instant of rupture.

' The resulting inequalities of pressure in the oil pots of the different phases willtend to 10 equalize thus causing a flow of oil from the pots in which the arcs are the most vigorous to the remaining pots. This flow will'create astronger current of oil up through the fixed contacts 11 of said remaining pots 15- which will greatly assist in rupturing the arcs drawn at those particular contacts.

VViththe arcs in one leg of the circuit 'ru'ptured there will be a How of oil between the oil pots of theother phases and a like rupture of the weaker arc which will completely rupture the entirecircuit. Y

Referring to the modification illustrated in Fig. 3 the construction is the same as that heretofore described except that one -of the movable contact rods 12 is shorter than'the .companion rod 12*. Due to 'this construetion two breaks take place in each leg of the circuit and in addition to-the equalization of pressures between the oil pots Qitheiiit so ferent phases a flow of oil is produced between the pots of the same phase since the arc is drawn by the contact rod 12 prior to the contact rod 12". a

In order to'prevent the rupture of the oil 85 pots in case of excessive pressure they may" be provided with a safety valvesuch as shown in one of the pots inFig. 3. This valve is formed by a spring-pressed plate 26 closing an aperture 27 in apartition 28 located above the fixed contact and the surface ,of the oil. In oaseof excessive ressure the air or gasesmayescape throng this aperture into the chamber above the partition 28 and thenceby he 'way of. oneormore vents e5 28* to atmosphere. Obviously the modified construction of Fig. 3 may also beemployed fer the purpose of rupturing a single phase alternating current circuit ora direct ourrent circuit as well as a polyphase circuit. As shown in Fig. 1, the partition 28 and. safety-valve 26 may be omitted, in which case the vents 28 .are made 0frestricted area, so as to prevent the free escape of-the gases generated in the oil-pots 10 when the "Beam is formed; Under normal conditions the gases escape slowly, whereby sufficient pressure is retained uponthe oil to extinguish the arcs; but-in caseof excessive press sure, these restricted openings permitthe o0 gases to escape rapidly enough to prevent injury to the oil-pots. 1

4' For the purpose of illustrating a ,com-' pletely operative device -I have shown. a standard type of. operating mechanism by which the reciprocating rods 22 which carry the bridging contacts are given their reciprocating motion. This mechanism comprises rock arm 29 to the outer end of which the rod 22 is secured and which is pivotally secured at its other end to the, upper end of the rock arm 3O. The outer end of the rock arm 29 is adapted to move in a vertical right line and the power for producing this movement is obtained from a rock shaft 31 provided with a .crank 32. The rightline movement of the'outer end of the rock arm 29 is obtained by means of a system of links which constitute a parallel motion mechanism. This system comprises a link 33 which is connected at its center by a link 34: to a fixed point 35. This same central point rod 36 and to a point 37 on the rock arm 29 by a 1i'nk'38.- The length of the link 34, one-half the length of the link 33 and the distance between the points37 and 39 are equal. The length of the links 38 are also equal to the distance between the points 39 and 40. With this construction the outer ends of the arms 29wnr133move 'fn vertical right lines, the latter betweenthe coiled actuating springs 41 and42. From'this con- 32 lies in-its substantially vertical positions the springs 4:1 and 42 will be compressed by then if the shaft 31 be rotated so as to com press either one of these springs and is held in this position the switch will be either in open or closed position and the appropriate spring will be compressed and ready to throw the switch to the opposite position whenever the shaft 31 is released. For the purpose' of holding the shaft'in these positions stops 43 are provided on a gear wheel 44:. Tlgese'stops rotate with the shaft and are adapted to be engaged by the stop 45 in engaging position by toggle 4C7. The toggle 4 .may be broken in any desired way to rock the stop 45 so as to free the'appropriate stop 43 and .allow the actuating spring to is located directly beneath the center ofthe' net coil located within thecasing 49. The switch may be set by$rotating the shaft 31 either by hand or otherwise. In the present instance I have shown an electric motor 50 which is geared through a suitable train of this train of gearing 1s a magnetic? clutch 51 which maybe cut in or out to stop the rota: tion of the shaft 31 at the appropriate po nt.

may; be made in the construction and orwithoutfdeparting from the spirit and scope of my present invefit'on'; I therefore do not the outer end of the link 33. Obviously gani zations presented in this application,

is connected to the crank 32 by connecting a struction it will be seen thatwhen the crank pivoted atthe point 46 and normally held not throw the switch. In the present instance plunger 4:8 is employed for this purpose. It

toggle i7 and is actuated by means of a mag- 1 gearing to the shaft 3 1 for this purpose. In t 'Obvio'usly certain changes and alterations at the assist in its extinguishment.

. wish a be unduly limitedbut aim to cover by the terms of the appended claims all such alterations and modifications. What I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, isselectric switch, comprising a plurality of pairs of separable contacts, a closed chamber containing insulating fluid for each pair, and means for transmitting pressure developedin one chamber to the insulat-in fluid in the other chambers, and thereby directing the fluid therein against the arc to extinguish it. 2. An electric switch, '-comprising' aplurality" of pairs of separable contacts, a closed chamber for each pair, and means for directing any excess of pressure produced by thedrawing-ofan arcjin one chamber against'the are [drawn-in another so as to assist in its extinguishme'nt. 3. The combination with a polyphase circult, of an electric switch comprising a break point in each'leg of said circuit and means for confining the pressure produced by thearcdrawn at the breakpoint'infone leg and directing break point. in another leg so as to 4. electric switch, comprising a plurality of cooperatin 5. 11 electric switch, comprising aplu rality of oil pots, an oil-communicating passagevbetween said pots, fixed contacts with to disengage one of sai "in said pots, and a'br'idgingcontact arranged to disengage one of said contacts prior-to the other. V

6. An electric switch, comprising a pluan oil-communicating pas- 1n saidpots, a bridgin' contact arranged contacts prior to the other, and a safety valve forcontrolling the pressure in the 011 pot where the contacts first separate.

sepacontacts 7. An electric jswitch comprising rable contacts,a chamber for said having an opening in the wall thereof.

' through which one of said contactsoxtends,

the diameter of the opening being greater than that of the contact, and a safety valve movable independently of 'saidcontact for closing said opening. 8. A double break -oil-switch comprising two pairs-of separable cooperating contacts, means containing oil suroundingsaid con- 7 tacts, said means comprising a chamber inclosing each pair of contacts. and a pressure ,equalizmg conduit joining said chambers and permitting a circulation. of the oil.

9, An electric switch comprising a vesthe are formed upon to another,

it against an are drawn from. beneath said separable contacts ar-- ranged to form. a p urali-ty of'break points ving provided with a vent to normally close said vent,

'mounted in said chamber,

vent escape of sel eontaining insulating fluid, coiiperating fixed and movable contacts mounted to separate in said vessel insaid insulating fluid, a partition in said vessel provided with a vent to permit fluid put under pressure by the separation of said one part of the vessel said movable contact being contacts to flow from mounted to a member through which said movable contactpasses with slight clearance, said member being mounted'adjaoent said partition with its surface at an angle to the axis of said vent to form ade'flecto'r for the fluid put under ressure by the are. a

10. An e ectric sw tch comprising a vessel containing insulating fluid, a partition mounted in said ve'mel and provided with a vent, cooperating fixed and movable conm'ounted separate in said vessel beneath said partition, and a spring pressed plate through which said movable Conta passes with slight clearance mounted to .ngrmally obstruct the flow of fluid through said vent from beneath the partition and to yield in response to pressure of fluid be neath said partition to permit fluid to flow partition to the upper surface thereof.

11. An electric switch com rising a vessel containing insulating flui a partition mounted in said vessel to divide said vessel into two compartments, said partition be permit fluid to flow from one compartment into the other, relatively movable cooperating contacts mounted to separate in one of said com move through said vent, and

partments, one of said contacts being'movable out of said compartment through said vent, a member surrounding said contact with slight clearance, mounted to cooperate with said partition to said means being actuated .byipressure in one compartment to form with said vent a restricted outlet to the other compartment.

and yieldingly 12. An electric switch comprising a chamber containing insulating fluid, and having in one wall thereof avent to permit escape of said fluid under pressure,

a fixed contact a movable conwhile said movable contact is in said chamber, said closure being lifted by pressure in said chamber. a I

13. An electric switch comprising a chamber containing insulating fluid and having in one wall thereof a vent to permit escape of said fluid under premure, a fixed of said fluid .under pressure,-a fixed contact mounted in said chamber, a movable contact contact mounted in said chamber, a movable contact smaller than said' vent. movable into and out-of said'chamber-thi'ough said vent to cooperate-with the'fixed contact in said chamber,.avalve disk larger than said ven t slidably mounted on said movable 'c ontact to make-a substantially fluid-. tight fit with the walls of said vent and with said contact when in normal position, and means for yieldingly holding said valve disk in normal position against the pressure ofthe fluid in said chamber.

14:. An electric switch comprlsing a cham- 7 her containing insulating fluid, and having in one wall thereof a vent to permit escape smaller than said vent movable into and out of said chamber through said ventv to cooperate with the fixed contact in said chamher, and a closure for said vent yieldingly held inposition to. close said vent, said closure having an opening through which fluid intercepting member through saidmovable contact passes with slight said movable contactpasses-lto enter and leavesa-idchamber; 3 a I 15. A circuit interrupting device comprising a pressureretainirig chamber containing oil and-having a vent in one wall thereof, a stationary contact in said cham her, a movable contactmounted to separate from said stationary contact and thereby draw an arc in said chamber and to move out of said chamber through said-vent; and a which clearance, said member being mounted adjacent said vent to intercept and deflect awayfrom the path of the movable contact the greater portion ofthe jet. of fluid dis charged from said vent; g In witness whereof, Ihave hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, 1905.

- HENRY PRICE BALL -Witnesses:"j v, y

' G. P. SIMPSON J. R. Van Vnm'r. 

